President Benigno S. Aquino lll attends to the Good Governance Summit 2014 with the theme of ” Good Governance through Open Government and Sustainable Procurement ” at the Philippine International Convention Center, CCP Complex in Pasay City,Wednesday,July 15. Also in photo are from left, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda,Deped Secretary Armin Luistro, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas II, DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima, DBM Secretary Florencio Abad, Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras, Central Bank Governor Amando Tetangco, Presidential Legislative Liason Officer Manuel Mamba.(Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau)
MANILA, July 23 (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay for the first time on Wednesday admitted that he disagreed with President Benigno Aquino III’s decision to reject Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad’s resignation over the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) controversy.
When Aquino announced during a Cabinet meeting last July 11 that he received and decided to reject Abad’s resignation, media reports said Binay was the only one who did not applaud the announcement.
“Kasi ho yung pagpapalakpak sa aking pananaw eh yung mga kasama ko sa Cabinet ay pumalakpak (dahil) sinusuportahan nila yung pahayag dun sa naging desisyon ng Pangulo na huwag tanggapin ang resignation ni Secretary Abad,” Binay said.
(What I understood was that my fellow Cabinet members applauded the announcement because they supported the decision of the President rejecting the resignation of Secretary Abad.)
“Ako naman sa aking palagay eh dapat tanggapin [nya] yung resignation (In my opinion the President should have accepted the resignation),” Binay explained.
“Pero sabi ko nga nadesisyunan na ni Pangulo yan so that’s already moot and academic (But as I said, it was already decided on so that’s moot and academic),” he said.
Abad, who was credited for crafting the DAP, tendered his resignation almost two weeks after the high court decision. He said he was taking full responsibility for developing and implementing the DAP. However, he said he decided to stay after the President “expressed his continuing trust and confidence.” (MNS)